Channel 5 are not usually associated with quality output but we were completely blown away by Murder Prevention’s first two part story Operation False Prophet.
Hard hitting and pulling no punches the show focuses on the work of a murder prevention team whose aim is to use pre-emptive strikes to stop major crimes from occuring (you’d think this would be highly improbable but the UK really does have a MP Team, set up in 2001 it uses sophisticated tracking and monitering to track PDO’s (potentially dangerous offenders).
Leading the team is DCI Patrick Taylor (Conor Mullen) and his main oppo is Ray Lloyd (Mark Lewis Jones) who is a former Special Branch officer who sometimes is a little over zealous. Also on the team are victimology expert (played by the rather lovely Sarah Smart) and newcomer Mark Rosen (Tom Brooke) a profiler.
In Operation False Prophet the team are watching two PDO’s – one a convicted rapist, James Gibson (Bo Poraj) whom they believe is about to strike again and they are also closely monitering Paul Cullen who may be about to commit brutal murder.
production details
UK / Channel 5 – World Productions / 2×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 30 October and 6 November 2004
Writer: Declan Croghan / Director: Justin Chadwick
guest cast
BO PORAJ as James Gibson
CHRISTINE BOTTOMLEY as Sally Brook
ANDREW FRAME as Custody Sergeant
ALASTAIR GALBRAITH as Dr Morrissey
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG as Leon Bracken
RICK WARDEN as Andrew Ainsworth
BADRIA TIMIMI as Louise Cole
TONY MOONEY as DC Simmons
JOE HALL as Mr Taylor
PETER WIGHT as Cmdr Donald Wicker
TILLY VOSBURGH as Carole Cullen
TOM BENNETT as Paul Cullen
KARL NELSON as James Hale
LEVI HAYES as Darren Taite
LIAM MILLS as Thomas Mailer
KERRY ELKINS as Kerry Phillips
ALISON SKILBECK as Magistrate
